AAAAAND WELCOME BACCCCCK TO LION FOR THE…YES, 39TH UPDDATEEEE! I think I said this might be the last chapter, guess what, I liiiiied! Ahahaha I'm sosorrypleasedontkillme, I did say that but it seems liiiike my head is not satisfied, I created another so yes, there will be ANOTHER chapter and that would be the last. This is, yeah, not the last, I'm so sorry. But then again, I want to thank everyone again who supported LION from chapter 1 to this point, thank you for reading and loving our small adventures in this AU. I really enjoyed writing LION and I hope you enjoyed reading it too.

Also yeah sorry everyone for posting late and all the fanfics I've been neglecting now, I'm being eaten alive by Yuri on Ice fandom, I swear sports anime is definetly one way to kidnap me. And god when will Viktor ever admit he's so gay for Yuuri! Ahem, sorry for promoting another anime but also, hey is it just me or there aren't Yuri on Ice fanfics yet here? *Eyes sparkles* DOES THAT MEAN I CAN MAKE ONE? Ahahaahha actually too late to stop me I already did!

Anyways, I wanna say thank you to like how many again, 15-ish reviews last chapters I felt drowning in your feels guys, thank you so much! And I am so sorry for yet again the cliffhanger, ahahahha I can't promise I won't do that again though. Anyways, yeah so sad stuffs after intense battle, what will Akashi do now, is still there a chance for Akafuri or is this the end of the long story of the Emperor and the Peasant? ARE YOU REAAAADY?! Hohohoho please review again and hope you likeee it!

Also…since LION is close to an end requests for new fanfics anyone?

Chapter 40: Requiem for the Beast

Human hands are warm.

Human hands are the first sensation he ever felt.

He remember the first thing that he ever saw is the face of the woman who gave birth to them. She named them Seijuuro. He thought it was very fitting for their title, an heir to the throne, the first son of the Emperor of the biggest Empire the world has ever known.

What is he, why does he exist? He tried to ask it himself, however despite his supreme intelligence that surpasses all logic in the world, he still is unable to give himself the simple answer to that question.

All he knew is he didn't have a body of his own, he lived inside a human, inside Akashi Seijuuro. He is him and he isn't him at the same time. Their mother knew of his existence from the beginning, however she refused to call it a curse, so instead she called it a gift—a gift that many feared, a gift that the other Akashi hated.

It is understandable when he tried to push him in the very back of his mind, chaining him into the invisible crooks of their shared consciousness. He could be everything a fearsome beast could be, untamed, powerful and intelligent. Despite that he loved the other Akashi, it was why he decided to be the one to hate so that the other would not have to, and he piled them up with him in the narrow and tight constraints of their shared consciousness.

It grew heavier and heavier as time passed by, it became darker, sadder, and colder in there. He had almost forgot what else was there aside from hate and regret, then some spark flickered in that room in the form of a wavering tiny and shy voice of a certain brunette.

"F-Furihata Kouki."

His eyes were of pure innocence, a tiny fragile soul yet so brave. He remembers the color of his eyes when he first saw them, it was like the color of the earth, it was the first color he saw since he existed. Of all the voices from this world, it is the first to reach him aside from the voice the other Akashi. It was soft and kind, it felt like a requiem.

And then when he took Akashi's wrist as he ran to bring them to safety, he felt that spark crackled as it lit a fire inside the cold confines of Akashi's mind, right in that place where he carefully hid himself. His hands were not the hands of a person who works, it is a hand of someone of royal birth, right then, he knew Furihata Kouki lied, and yet he could look away when he took him with his tiny hand and massive courage. He couldn't call out and tell the other the truth because he wanted to live that lie as well. He wanted to believe and sink deep in that warmth he never had for such a long time.

It felt like home around him, he looked at him in his eyes and there was not a hint of disgust in them. There was no malice or malevolence it that he envied it so much, he is so pure that he wanted to paint him with his color, he wanted…him. It was like a quick sand, he knew the moment he would acknowledge this there will be no way for him to turn away, but that lie tasted sweet in his pallet, the quick sand pulled him slowly down.

One generic flower was what it took for every ounce of him to unrevealed.

And his smiles and laughs were so charmingly deceiving, his kind brown eyes were so tempting, this is a deceit, a farce, he would say in a murmur to the other Akashi but the other would reply that he is not what he think, that he had sent so much time looking at people's eyes painted in disgust and fear, in fake smiles and listening cunning words that he merely grew to find mistrust in everyone.

Kouki is different—the other Akashi would say with a calm heart, so he wanted to believe too this time around. He wanted the peace that brunette gave them.

But-

"Ask yourself."

Confusion stirred deep inside him as the other's feelings mixed with his.

And one by one, pieces started sticking in the right places. The day Furihata Kouki came into the palace was only a few days right after the reported abduction of the prince of Seirin, the prince was never found, but according to the report Kuroko gave him, one empty massive metal cage was found in an empty warehouse. He never knew the name of the prince as he was supposedly insignificant until his older brother and now King of Seirin Kagami Taiga left. He didn't saw the missing prince's face before either.

Seirin also once battled with a group of illegal traders who traded fake rice granules to the poor citizens of the Kingdom. The former King of Seirin, Kiyoshi Teppei injured one of his leg in the battle after waging a war to the said traders due to one of his children getting accidentally poisoned by it.

"…the previous King found this out due to one of his children getting sick from it as well. He went to war against the troop whom was later found out to be some group of bandits…"

Furihata Kouki identified it because it was him, he is the son of the former King of Seirin who fell ill due to the fake rice that spread throughout the Kingdom.

And Kuroko is the one who let him into the palace, Kuroko was the one who veiled him and clothed him as a peasant, a lower than average young man with no place to go. Kuroko knew all of it and he kept it from him, he knew and he let it happen.

When everything slowly made sense for the other Akashi, he felt the shackles crushing down, he could feel the betrayal and disappointment sipping through the thin layers of barriers they shared. He trembled as everything seemed to be slapped right at their faces. Furihata Kouki is not the person whom they think is, Furihata Kouki decided to lie right at their face, every single time, he could have told him, he could have said it but he didn't.

He knew he is lying but he hoped he would tell him the truth, he thought he is different.

And the fire that was lit inside them grew into an all-consuming fire of rage and hurt.

He just wanted it to end.

"You knew, didn't you?"

It made him stop in his tracks, for a brief moment he found the world stop right before his very eyes. A beautiful set of brown eyes stares right at him. Furihata Kouki stood there looking at him with remorseful eyes, asking him, not the Akashi he met, but the Akashi standing in front of him. He is looking straight at the monster that he is and still had that warmth.

But he decided not be deceived again.

Human hands are warm.

They really are.

"Does…this…satisfy you?"

His jaws stiffen, his whole body started trembling as he stares down at the brunette, his blood started staining his clothes and the muddy soil beneath him.

Love does not suite a monster like him and yet he felt utterly wrecked, he thought that when Furihata Kouki is no longer, then his pain, all the scorching pain would be wiped away. And he would wake up in a world where he does not know of love once more, and perhaps that would make it better. But it felt wrecked, his chest felt heavy and all the emotions in his body flowed like a feral river in a storm.

He could hear the other inside him crying, calling out the name of the brunette.

"I'm really…am sorry. I…I'm always so selfish…I wanted to see you…or talk to you. I want to know what you truly feel. Not Akashi-kun but you. I…don't really think you're a monster."

His eyes widen at the brunette's word, and for some reason his eyes started welling up, warm tears started flowing out of his eyes. He had never shed tears, not even when their dear mother died.

It's so painful, like you are filled with small cuts and suddenly you were dipped into a sea of vinegar. He wanted to cry for help, but he didn't know to whom he'd call, who would cradle a monster just like—No, he bit his lower lip as he felt that weak and slender hand reach to the side of his face, it isn't so warm anymore, and that weak hand bravely wiped his tears off just as how he would brush off his worries and uncertainties before with his smile and laugh, with words that would simply calm all the waves.

"See, monsters don't cry for pitiful creatures like me, but you are…because…you're not a monster…you're just…a bit…lonely. As for me…you see, it hurts a lot…love, I mean…but I don't regret it. You…were such a nice dream, Sei…"

It felt so slow, when the warmth of his fingertips finally slid away from his skin.

Akashi was still staring at him when those brown eyes shut and his hand hit the ground, the sound seemed so loud that he didn't even hear Kuroko calling out their names.

His blood felt warm in his hands, but it didn't made him feel better.

Even at his last moments, he wanted him to know that he is not a monster. Even after hurting him so many times, even after what he had done, he still used his hand to wipe his pain away. He is truly, so…stupid.

Once upon a time, there was a prince.

And he cursed himself to be a beast so ugly that no one would dare to touch him, and he lived up in a castle made of bricks on top of a hill, away from anyone.

It wasn't because he hated people, it was because people live a very inconveniently short life, and being close to those kinds of creatures would only hurt him. He simply is afraid of pain.

Pride and ego, it was his walls, he convinced himself he didn't need them, that he will be alright, that he is wise enough to fend for himself, that he is contented just himself. But the truth is, the walls are cold and dark, it is sad and lonely.

Then one naïve human, a plain peasant came and slowly brought the wall down, brick, by brick.

The peasant was not shock of the prince's bestial features, the peasant smiled and introduced himself with a smile that was brighter and warmer than any flame. And at that moment, the beast was mesmerized by his first taste of love.

Despite the coldness of the beast, the peasant didn't give up, though stumbling in his feet, he fought with all that he had, with all the small that he is.

But in the end humans live such a short life, and before they knew it, time ran out for the tiny human. Unable to acknowledge the fact that he needed someone other than himself, the beast had become so used with solitude that he almost forgot all things that were truly important, and he took time for granted.

Akashi's lips trembled, ah, he finally remembered.

He took the small hand lying on the ground and kissed it.

With a trembling voice he sang a requiem he had almost lost, a song of regret just like what filled him.

"I was keeping a secret…I knew that was love, as the peasant softly fades away I felt an overwhelming sense of fear. I was keeping a secret, what I want is eternal love…and for the first time, I cried for someone else." Akashi quietly sung as he closed his eyes shut holding the unmoving body close to his. The warm blood in his hands reminded him of the quiet laugh of the brunette, his simplicity, his brave and kind soul.

He should have loved him more, enough to surpass everything and swallow the petty lies, to drown the betrayal and hate, but he loved him like a naïve teenage boy who hungered for attention and affection, he only loved him enough to want him.

"Akashi…kun."

Kuroko stood with eyes wide as he watches his brother cradle the limp figure of the brunette prince in his arms. A sword is stuck in the brunette's side as blood pool underneath them. Kuroko couldn't believe it, the sword stuck in the prince's side belongs to the Emperor, his brother, stabbed the prince, a harmless…prince.

"Furihata!"

Kagami stopped in his tracks, his body froze.

"No!" Kagami quickly dashed to get his brother, but Kuroko quickly tried to stop him, "Let me go, I need to get my brother away from that heartless creature! Furi can't fucking fight to save his own life, he shouldn't be involved in this!"

"Kagami-heika please—"

"He is my damn brother!" Kagami exclaimed his voice trembling with tears and anger, "He's my brother—I…I was supposed to protect him!"

"I'm sorry, but you don't understand yet!" Kuroko exclaimed completely hushing the taller male.

The two both turned to Akashi and the prince. Akashi gripped the brunette tight in his arms, his whole body trembled.

"N-No…No more…stop this." Akashi whispered. "End this, p-please…anyone…"

Kuroko walked towards Akashi as he looked at his brother's pitiful figure. He knew this might come, he didn't want Akashi to love Furihata just because he felt safe around him, he want him to see him beyond those, enough to save the both of them, but it was late. "Let me see him brother I shall see if—"

"No!" Akashi exclaimed pressing Furihata against his chest, "No more, please don't take him away anymore. It should have been me, he'll wake up, I-I just have to keep him warm, right?"

"Shujo…"

"H-He'll get cold in this rain, I'll have t-to warm him."

Kagami who was standing by gasped at the next thing that happened, the fifth prince walked close to the two and ignored Akashi and pulled Akashi by the collar off his clothes and landed a loud slap in his own brother's face.

SLAP!

"Enough!" Kuroko exclaimed, his hands clenched into a fist in his side as his older brother stared at him with wide eyes. "Yes, it is your fault! You had so much ego, you had so much pride you couldn't stop to listen, all you thought is you were hurt! You think Furihata-kun wasn't hurt as well? He loves you! He didn't want to lie either, especially not you! You didn't love him as much as he loves you, he doesn't deserve you, but he chose you still, to the very point of breaking. So stop this, all these are just self-pity so you could, what, justify yourself?"

"Tetsuya…"

Kuroko didn't say anything instead he pried Akashi's hands off Furihata and held the boy in the other's stead.

"He loved you when you were a drizzle, he loved you still when you were a storm." Turning around to look at Akashi's eyes, the fifth prince smiled sadly. "But you only loved him when he was summer."